Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1887-11-04
OLYMPIA. WASHINGTON TER.
OLYMPIA, FRIDAY EVENING, N0j. 1, 1857.
HOisted by their Own Petard.

HOlSted by their own Petafd.
1t would seem from the tone of the
Vancouver Register that some of the
people of that city are much excited
over the proposition to change the To-
cation of the Land Office from that
place to Winlock, in Lewis county.
This is not surprising, in itself, but
the atrocious attack made by that
journal on those who it styles "ccr-
tain corrupt political bosses in Olym-
pia," and who it charges have been
instrumental in setting the scheme on
foot, is astounding to those whose first
intimation of the project is obtained
from the very paper that gives them
the castigation. 1t is doubtless a
thorough knowledge of the fact that
corrupt political bosses" of Vancou-
yer have used disreputable methods
to effect the removal of the Olympia
land Office, that suggests so strongly
the probability that the present move
ment owes its origin to a people who
have suffered by such scheming and
have adopted it solely as retaliatory
expedient. The Register should not,
however, measure Olympia corn in i.
Vancouver a half-bushel. We are
proud to say that the scheming class is
remarkably small in Olympia. The
"corrupt political boss" has neither
habitation or a name in this delecta-
BILE portion of Gods footstool. "Boss-
ism" died when the Republican Office
holders clique was snuffed out of ex-
istence by the hand of Democratic
President. These facts make the Reg
listers accusations seem exceedingly
flat and pointless to people who have
opportunities for forming an opinion
upon the subject.
1t seems, however. that the corrupt
political bosses of Olympia" are not
alone in this effort to despoil Vancou-
yer of what she evidently regards as
her just heritage. That scape-goat
for al sins, the railroad company,
comes in for share of the Registers
caustic criticisms, and it gives as a
motive fsomething that has hitherto
been regarded as wholly unnecessary
when a condemned corporation is the
object kicked aD that the Winlock To-
cation "wOuld compel almost every
visitor to the land Office to ride over
the road" Probably by the same pro-
cess of thought that has established
the proverb "a poor excuse is better
than none," it may be inferred that
a poor reason is likewise entitled to
some respect; but in this age of rea-
son it is only the shallower minds that
place reliance on any such weak props.
The truth is, the Registers explanation
OF the railroad company's motive d.
reefs attention to the obvious fact that
more people travel over the road to
reach the land Office at Vancouver, at
one side of the district, than would If
it we've centrally located and accessible
to many by conveyances of their own.
If is quite probable that many of
our people would have never thought of
the suggested change, if the Vancou-
yer paper had not shouted SO Justify,
before it was fairly hit. Reflection
has only convinced the STANDARD that
there is merit in the suggestion for a
removal to Winlock, or some more
central position, and this thought
would probably never have occurred
upon the subject, had not the Register
made such lame defense of its cause.
FATHER ]. H. Wilbur, one of the
first ministers Of the NJ. E. Church on
visit this coast, is dead. He came to
Oregon in 1916, and for many years
labored zealously in building churches
and academies throughout the Will
lamette valley. He did not confine
himself, in the prosecution of this
work, to the pulpit, but hung up his
coat and by manual labor aided in
building several of the early houses of
worship in what was then almost a
wilderness. His wife, also an active
pioneer ana Jealous Christian, died a
few weeks ago, and this doubtless
FASTENED his end. He died possessed
of an estate valued at $4,000, Of
which $4,000 is devised to the Mis-.
sionary Society, $4,000 to the Church
Extension Fund, $4,000 to the Freed.
mems Aid Society, and bequest Of
property that will probably amount to
$4,000 to the Willamette University
The remainder is devoted to personal
legacies and minor requests for chart
ties.
THos. Wygant who has been Secre.
tary and assistant Treasurer of the
Oregon Railway and Navigation Com.
pany ever since its organization, has
rendered his resignation. His success
or will be c. F. Holcomb, brother Of
General Manager Holcomb. The re.
firing Secretary, Mr.. Wygant, foI
years held similar position with the
old Oregon Steam Navigation Com.
pany and in his retirement the pre-.
ent company loses a faithful, in
dustriOus and thOrougElv cOmnefaut